Expanding Mental Health Emergency Departments Within NHS to Alleviate Hospital Strain
Expansion of Mental Health Crisis Centres Across England to Alleviate A&E Overcrowding
In an attempt to reduce the strain on busy Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments, the National Health Service (NHS) in England will open more mental health crisis centres. This initiative comes as patients experiencing mental health crises are twice as likely to wait for over 12 hours compared to other patients, according to a 2022 report from The Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
These new centres, staffed by specialist doctors and nurses, will cater to patients exhibiting symptoms of a mental health crisis, such as suicidal thoughts or psychosis. Currently, ten NHS trusts have already established separate units for mental health emergencies, some located on the sites or adjacent to existing A&E units.
The plan is to expand this service nationally to "dozens of locations" throughout England in a broader 10-year NHS plan, as mentioned in a report by The Times. The aim is to provide timely and specialized care, thus relieving the pressure on overcrowded A&E departments.
Sir Jim Mackey, the chief executive of NHS England, emphasized that A&Es are not designed to treat people in mental health crises. Instead, patients need the right support in the right setting. He stated, "Mental health crisis assessment centres can speed up access to appropriate care, offering people the help they need much sooner so they can stay out of hospital."
Claire Murdoch, the NHS national director for mental health, expressed hope that these mental health A&Es would be available across the country over the next decade. The centres would provide 24/7 support for patients in crisis, aiming to improve healthcare quality and reduce waiting times.
In a related move, the Metropolitan Police, the largest police force in the country, decided in November 2023 that officers would no longer attend mental health call-outs where a healthcare professional is deemed more appropriate. This step highlights the increased focus on providing specialized mental health care.
The expansion of mental health crisis centres is part of a significant endeavour to improve mental health care in England while reducing the burden on A&E departments.
In line with the ambition to improve mental health care and reduce A&E overcrowding, the 10-year NHS plan includes the expansion of mental health crisis centres to "dozens of locations" across England. These centres, dedicated to patients with mental health emergencies, will focus on providing timely, specialized care for those with symptoms such as suicidal thoughts or psychosis, thus easing the strain on health-and-wellness services, particularly science-based medical practices like the A&E.
